Monthly Archives: October 2014

One of the most interesting (and I wish I could say surprising) things about reaction to the Board of Inquiry decision to decline resource consent for a Basin Reserve flyover is how reluctant the New Zealand Transport Agency, many local councils, and flyover cheerleaders in the business community have been to examine what the Board actually said.

Such organisations appear to regard the Board decision as a toxic document that can be handled only with tongs. The idea of paying serious attention to the Board’s conclusions appears not to have occurred to them.

So I was very struck by the following letter, which Kate Zwartz wrote in response to a report in the Petone Herald of Poririua Mayor Nick Leggett and Kapiti Mayor Ross Church applauding NZTA’s plan to appeal the Board’s decision, and asked her for permission to republish it. Over to you, Kate:

How extraordinary that mayors and council executives can applaud the decision of New Zealand Transport Agency, a government body, to throw more public money after bad.

The decision of the Board of Inquiry, which heard months of detailed evidence from both sides, was crystal clear. Here are a few direct quotes from the Board’s Final Report and Decision, August 2014:

“… the quantum of transportation benefits is substantially less than originally claimed by the Transport Agency.” [1317]

“… we do not consider the Project can be credited with being a long term solution.” [504]

“… we have found that there would be significant adverse effects.” [1182]

“… it is our view that it is impracticable to avoid this structure dominating this sensitive environment.” [985]

Why is NZTA reluctant to accept this decision? Let’s get on with designing proper, fit-for-purpose solutions and drop the failed flyover.

The Save the Basin Campaign has announced that it will be contesting the New Zealand Transport Agency’s appeal against the Board of Inquiry decision to decline resource consent for a Basin Reserve flyover.

“Along with a number of other community groups, we have indicated our intention to be heard as an interested party in this appeal when it is heard in the High Court”, says spokesperson Joanna Newman. “That doesn’t mean we’re not extremely disappointed and frustrated. NZTA appears to have no interest in accepting a decision reached by a robust and democratic process established by this government to make good decisions on such projects. They seem to be perfectly happy to throw more taxpayer money down the drain in pursuit of their flyover obsession.”

The opposing community groups aim to work together, but taking such action has not been considered lightly, because of the costs involved. “We haven’t come so far only to sit back and allow NZTA to appeal the decision unopposed.”

Another source of disappointment to Save the Basin Campaign is that NZTA has not even allowed time to evaluate the impact of the recent opening of the Arras Tunnel under Buckle Street on Basin Reserve traffic flows. “It really does seem fixated on a flyover solution. The opinion of transport experts who gave evidence at the Board of Inquiry was that, with the introduction of three through lanes in Buckle Street and the removal of the Tory St intersection with Buckle St, the flow of traffic around the Basin Reserve would be greatly improved.”

“Evidence was also provided of opportunities to improve lane markings to optimise the existing roads around the Basin Reserve. NZTA, however, seems reluctant to explore these low cost opportunities, preferring instead to waste more money on legal fees to appeal the Board of Inquiry decision.”